Poker night over a video call

The set-up that works

Two things on screen: the video call, for faces and table talk, and the poker table, for the cards. Don't try to deal real cards to a camera. Everyone plays on Poker Rooms beside the call, where the cards stay private, the dealing is fair and the chips are counted for you.

1. Start the call on whatever your group already uses: Zoom, FaceTime, Teams, Google Meet or a WhatsApp video call all work.
2. Start a private table on Poker Rooms and pick the game, the blinds and the buy-in, in chips.
3. Drop the table's link in the call's chat or your group chat. Friends tap it, pick a name and a seat, and they're in.
4. Deal. Talk over the call; the table handles the cards, the betting, the pots and the ledger.

Which screen for what

Poker Rooms is built for phones first, so the table fills the screen and your cards and buttons stay big enough to tap.

Tips for a good night

• Mute the table's sounds or the call's, not both: the table's chimes tell you when it's your turn, and two lots of sound get confusing.
• Agree a finish time before you start, and use a tournament if you want a definite end and a winner.
• Turn on the house specials. A bomb pot or a straddle round livens up a call that's gone quiet. Side games.
• Keep the banter on the call and use the table chat for the quick stuff: "nice hand", a reaction, a groan.
• Settle up at the end with the table's ledger, in chips, and share the results in the group chat.

New players on the call?

Send them our five-minute guide to Hold'em and the printable hand rankings before the night. At the table, Poker Rooms names everyone's hand as the cards come, so they learn as they play.